Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

My school fired me last week. Last friday actually.

Two weeks ago I gave my 30 days notice. The principal asked me for 2 months to find someone new, and I said "OK". After the graduation ceremony, when the kids went home, and it was quitting time... they told me they want me to leave. Now. Not in 2 months. That day.

Because it was more convenient for them. They don't want to start a semester with one teacher and then switch after 2 months. They said it looks bad to the parents. So they wanted me to just leave. I was kind of stunned, and went home. Over the last 9 months working there, I requested some vacation days to visit my family, and had a couple of sick days. He never took any of it out of my paycheck, even when I asked him to. Then that friday, he took everything out of the paycheck, which left me around 1mil.

Monday morning, I went to work and I said I needed more time to get my documents together, and arrange housing. They said no. I said I want to keep working there, or that I'd like to at least stay in my apartment for 30 days while I wait for my CRC to get here. Nope. It's not their problem. I was trying to be understanding of their position... they don't want to look bad to the new parents having a teacher quit after two months. Also the V.P. totally hates me and the Principal got replaced.

I tried to talk to them and come to an agreement on monday. The V.P. refused to talk to me, and kept telling me that I need to negotiate with the principal. But he's not there, and he won't answer his phone. I called him for an hour straight, without answer. They said to go home and the woman would call me by the end of the day. Her answer was that they can't help me, and I must leave my apartment by friday at 5:00 so a new teacher can move in. All week I've been telling them it's not enough time, and I can't get a new job that fast with the new Criminal Record Report requirement.

They are sending movers to my house at 5:00 tomorrow, despite me telling them I have nowhere to go, and nowhere to put my stuff. I tried all week to talk to them, and find a reasonable solution... and they won't have any of it. They're not even taking my phone calls anymore, just sending me messages reminding me to be ready to go at 5:00pm tomorrow.

AAAAAAAARG.

So tomorrow morning I'm going to go talk to the Labor board. But... My school keeps acting like they aren't firing me, and I'm quitting... Since I said I wanted to quit (after 2 months).

So my question is... what's going to happen at the labor board? Are they going to nod their heads sympathetically and say "awe, that's a shame... bye bye now". Is it a waste of time?

What can I do?

I'm not the only teacher at that school they fired that week. They fired the head teacher without notice. But he was so fed up with them and tired of working there, he just said "what ever" and went home.

Mi Yum mi · Joined: 28 Jan 2008

They MUST let you live in your place for 1 month and they also MUST pay you one month pay for said month. Go to labour. They'll straighten them out.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

AFter 6 months they have to give you 30 days pay or 30 days notice.

On the bright side, since you are more than 9 months in you can get a LOR and switch jobs (until the 15th) without all the hassle of the CRCs and apostilles.

Start looking.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

missionshk · Joined: 09 May 2007

If I were you, I would continue to go to school everyday until its worked out.

I would tell the prinicipal that he must pay your severance pay early, and that he must pay pension also.

If not, I would go to class and teach as usual. Act like you dont know what they said.-

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Did you give the principle a letter stating you are giving two months? If so, did you get it signed? Go to the labor board, they'll sort it....maybe. Confused

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

I'm a little confused. Is this a ps or a hagwon? You refer to principal and VP which makes me think you're talking about a ps, but then you talk about them firing a "head teacher" which makes it sound like it's not a ps since I don't know of any ps with more than one ft and hence no "head teacher" to get fired. Please explain.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

I think you have to work the entire year to get the severance. You should check it, but I am pretty sure of this, you don't get a percentage of it for leaving early unless that's in your contract. Again, check into it because I'm not 100% sure, though pretty sure.

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

poet13 · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:11 am Post subject:

After the first year, severance is pro-rated.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Call the labor board immediately. Find out what you need to do. Get a Korean to call.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

Cerriowen, this is the second time in a row you have quit a school.
What's up with you?
Just asking.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

poet13 · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:10 am Post subject:

"No, it isn't.
I can be asked for in advance of completing your second year, but there is no legal right for that either.."

I don't understand this response.

plus99 · Joined: 30 Dec 2007

is this true that the school doesnt have to give 30 days notice if you havent been there 6 months? it would be nice to see this written officially somewhere but i havent seen it. I was under the impression that they had to give you 30 days notice even if you had been there less than six months.